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The insecurities of a future wedding guest (me that is)
On my mantelpiece sits an invitation to a very special wedding. It’s going to be an amazing and extremely beautiful occasion I just know: absolutely creative and mind-boggling. The bride is the daughter of my ex-brother-in-law, of whom I am very fond. She is beautiful, an artist who has a lovely fiancée musician. Money is really no object in making this day totally awesome and memorable. I want to remember myself too, beautiful and confident.
Of course I am a totally unimportant aspect of this occasion, but as I know every single guest is going to make a big effort to look absolutely stunning and fabulous, I too am equally pressed to ensure I too look the part. To be honest I’ve already bought a dress and quite expensive it is too, by my normal spending standards, (though it was actually half-price in a swish designer sale). My reason for pre-purchasing is that I thought I could then justify to myself the purchase of an expensive pair of shoes with a delicious bag to match nearer to the big date in September. Now I especially know that I should also buy some heavy-duty, hold-in everything, Spanx, or one of those new corsets from M&S that supposedly make you look like Kim Kardashian. But quite frankly I want to be fit and toned in case it’s stinking hot and I can’t bare the thought of unsexy clingy underwear. Now I realise 2 months is not long to completely change my look (well maybe not completely) but I’m going to have a go.
Already I don’t like the tops of my arms (of course). But the dress is sleeveless so that’s a challenge in itself. I’ve got the kettle bells, so I’m planning to get flicking those babies everyday and spinning them round my head. Then I’ll be doing box press-ups with my hands close together to get those triceps yelling ‘ouch!’ and repeatedly lifting weights to tone the biceps. This is going to take drive and focus and I’m not convinced I can so this on my own.
Fortunately I have a secret weapon: my friend, Helen Tite, owner of The Core. She’s my fitness guru. She’s already turned me from a lazy slob into a fanatic Pilates almost-expert and a grooving Zumba follower. The trouble is, whilst I have a ‘core ‘of steel, there’s a layer of flab over those hard abs. Now I’m looking for a quick-fix -that will hopefully melt the wobbly bits and get me happy and honed. So I’ll be doing a Bootcamp type outdoor class every Saturday at 9am, and whenever I can I’ll be getting myself to Pump and hopefully throwing in some Personal Training.
Then I need to look at my diet. To shift a few pounds I usually have to go hard on myself and give up all the goodies from tea and coffee to the vino and Prosecco, and suffer the insane headache that goes with the onset of this regime. Last time I tried it I went most peculiar in Sainsbury’s car park. My daughter thought I was having a stroke and I just drove into the side of a car. (Fortunately the owner said: “Don’t upset yourself too much, it’s only a ruddy Skoda!”) Anyway I think I’m going to brake myself into this gently. Drop the sugar, spuds and pasta and eat lean and fresh.
It’s quite obvious I am going to become a total bore over the next few weeks, but you know what, it’s worth it. There are going to be a lot of the 400 (yes really) guests that are going to have known me for a long time and I want them saying: “Doesn’t she look amazing”, not “Wow what happened to her!”……….And, if I do get complements I just might write another blog boasting about myself. So look out in mid-September.
We talk to global hair icon Anthony Mascolo. TIGI International Artistic Director.
1.Why did you decide to become a hairdresser?
My parents were hairdressers and my 3 older brothers became hairdressers too and truly I never considered doing anything else.
When I was 12 years old I started working in the salon with my father after school, at weekends and during the holidays and by the time I left school at 16 I was already qualified.
2.You have been “British Hairdresser of the Year” three times, how did you achieve that? Did you ever imagine that you would succeed so much?
I have worked hard to achieve what I have achieved. But I’ve also had a very strong team to support me. My brother Bruno continually pushed me and inspired me to push my artistry, and my wife, and makeup artist, Pat, has been at my side helping me develop ideas and create incredible imagery.
3.Have you styled the hair of many celebrities?
I have worked with many celebrities over the years, but as I have always travelled a lot, my main work has been with models. With celebrities, much of the time you are helping to create their vision for themselves, but when I am doing my own shoots with a model, I can design the hair, the image, the lighting and the overall concept. That is my favourite way to express myself.
4.You are a creative director, a hair stylist, a business man and a photographer. Which of these do you like the most?
I enjoy every aspect of my work, but I get the most pleasure from working on a creative project. This might be a show, a photo shoot or a creative project. It’s all about pushing yourself and creating new ways to express yourself.
5.From what sources do you find inspiration?
Inspiration comes from everywhere and it’s important to be open to ideas. It might be fashion from the catwalk or fashion that I see on the street worn by the experimental creative young people that you find in many cities –but particularly in London. It might be art –both classic and modern, the work of a photographer, a film, music or architecture or it might be an idea I get when travelling or having a conversation. The important thing is to be open to ideas.
Softness, Style and Sensuality…the way forwards for your hair
Here Nick talks about styling for the growing market of 35 + clients
Hair Styling for the mature client.
” A hairstyle is very individual and what suits a person-young or old- depends on their facial shape and the texture of their hair,” says Nick Irwin TIGI Global Creative Director. “All too often women cling to the hairstyle they wore 10, or even 20, years ago and that is the most ageing thing they can do!
The key to looking fantastic is to stay on-trend, but to avoid sharpness and strong shapes that are inclined to be less flattering. Having said that, you can, for example, soften a short hairstyle by leaving the hair at the nape a little longer or having a sweeping fringe. Our cut collections always include short, mid-length, and below the shoulder hairstyles – all of which can work for older clients as well as young ones. We tend to create longer styles with layers and on older clients it’s important to maintain shorter lengths around the face to draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones.
Colour is crucially important. It adds vibrancy and again it’s important not to have a solid colour or to cling to those dull highlights you wore in the 80s! The colour should work with the cut to bring out the shape and texture. Today’s colours add shine and actually improve the condition of hair, plus they make think hair look thicker – and this is all good on mature clients. Again, ensure clients steer away from the colour they had at 20, but equally don’t go for ash blondes that are just one tone away from grey and do nothing to flatter anyone.
Products too are crucial. So often women moan that their hair looks flat or dull or thin, but if they used the right products to create the perfect texture for their hairstyle plus a shine spray to add lustre and the correct shampoo and conditioner for their hair type, I can guarantee they would not only look better, they would look younger too.
Celebrities like Jane Fonda and Goldie Hawn don’t just look amazing because they’re beautiful and have great bodies – they look fantastic because their hair is always beautiful.
My best advice to any women would be to pester their hairdresser to give a really good consultation. The hairdresser should advise what products to use, what colour works with the cut and natural skin colouring, what cut will enhance the person and their facial structure- and they should tell the client how to style their hair at home. If they don’t do all this then I’d say – find a new hairdresser!” Nick Irwin
“ Not surprisingly. most women worry about their faces looking older – the jawline sagging, eyes wrinkling and either gaining weight so that the face becomes rounder or losing weight on the face so that it looks harsh. So when it comes to styling, softness is the key. Styling hair with a longish side fringe and ‘dressed’ to enhance the cheekbones brings attention to the eyes and is always flattering.
On longer hair, add some height at the crown, using a volume-enhancing spray, blow-drying with a medium round brush, and loosely tie hair into a knot at the nape, allowing fine tendrils to fall at the sides of the face. A sweeping fringe that falls softly across the forehead will flatter eyes and emphasis the cheek-bones. Spray with a light hairspray that also adds shine to keep the style in place… Pulling the hair back into a tight pony-tail might pull up your forehead, but it isn’t the answer! Again product choice is key. Hair is often drier and therefore duller as you age, so using products that smooth the cuticle, add shine, volume and separation is always good. Use smoothing pastes, shine sprays and serums to make hair look smooth, sleek and totally sexy.”
Anthony Mascolo – a few facts you might not know.
Anthony Mascolo finally joined Twitter last Friday. This is some move, for a man far more used to being vocal on stage, creating ideas and hairstyles on stage or in front of the camera, or indeed standing behind the camera shooting. He’s a global hair icon, highly respected and very ‘normal’ when you meet him. Creativity comes easy. So I thought you might like to learn a few facts about him!
- He’s good at drawing, could easily have been a sculptor and has deconstructed and reconstructed every home he’s owned.
- Anthony is a people person. He’s happiest in a crowd, usually with his wife Pat, close friends and his 3 kids; Georgina, Alex and Joshua, but his team are also important to him and he likes nothing better than hanging out with team brainstorming ideas for new collections and shows.
- As a teenager Anthony was fanatical about karate. When he wasn’t at his karate club he was watching Bruce Lee films.
- It took Anthony 3 attempts to pass his driving test. His first car was a Mini, which he had sprayed white with ‘nudge bars, wheel arches and a small steering wheel. Then his brothers bought him a Panther Lima. (Not bad for a 20 year old eh!)
- In 1980 his then girlfriend Pat Stokes, bought him a camera. This was to change both their lives. (Apart from getting married 4 years later,) Anthony was soon shooting all of his own imagery whilst Pat changed tack, gave up hairdressing, and became a fantastic makeup artist.
- Anthony has done 2 London and 1 New York marathon. He’s the kind of guy who can do no exercise for months on end, then focus on a goal and achieve it (almost) effortlessly.
- Well documented. Anthony is an absolute fan of Chelsea football club. But do you know he also founded a football charity to make football available to kids in South London, where Anthony was brought up. The Bed Head Football Club is now a charity registered in the memory of Anthony’s late brother: The Guy Mascolo Football Charity. http://www.bedheadfc.com
- Anthony is a great skier. He’s got skill as well as great moves.
- Like many Italians, food and eating out is a passion. When in London Scalini’s in Knightsbridge is a firm favourite, but if it’s not Italian then Nobu is the place for Anthony. But he’s a dab hand at cooking too. Spaghetti lobster or Spaghetti alle vongole (a dish much loved in the Campania area of Italy,) are 2 dishes he does very well.
- Favourite hair cuts: variations of the bob, especially the Under-Cut
Putting the finishing touches to a TIGI shoot.
Why I’m beaming
Eight years ago I moved to the depths of Cornwall and began my weekly commute to London. I was taken to Cornwall screaming and kicking. “I’ll never be able to buy clothes, shoes, get a decent macchiato and there’s no Waitrose. ” In all cases, bar Waitrose, I was proven wrong, but infiltrating into Cornish society proved harder. I comfort ate, put on weight, developed back ache and ended up visiting an osteopath who told me to try Pilates.
Pilates changed my life! I made friends, lost the weight I’d put on and more, and began to appreciate my environment. When Helen Tite, my Pilates teacher, and now a very dear friend, opened her own fitness centre: The Core, it seemed churlish not to try different classes, and 4 years on I’m probably the fittest I’ve ever been in my life.
This weekend Helen helped launch Beamfit to the UK fitness market. Exercising on an unstable 6 inch wide beam improves balance and though performed slowly, the movements make you hot within minutes, require core strength and absolute mental concentration. An hour and a quarter into the 2 hour session, my mind wandered for a few seconds and I instantly found myself wobbling. David Mesirow, the founder of BeamFit, who had come all the way from California to Falmouth, to share his techniques, explained that from the age of 23 onwards we start to lose our powers of balance, which makes me think that by the time you’re 45 it’s a wonder you can still stand up.
Apart from all the health advantages, being fit helps you feel good about yourself and becomes part of your total image. Being fit has helped me focus on myself and has given me the benefit of increased energy, confidence and happiness.
Just as I like my hair to look good, my fitness training is equally important to me. Beamfit was fantastic, I walked out of the studio feeling as if I had the posture of Giselle with my stomach muscles pulled in tight and feeling as if I could walk a tightrope.
Mellow yellow and gold, brown and red……
Walking the dogs this morning in the “Fairy Woods” (which is my own name for a path that winds through part of the Trelissick Estate in Cornwall and named because I’m sure if there were such things as fairies, they’d live there,) I was struck how this week autumn has well and truly arrived.
Bright green moss was growing on the fallen branches and everywhere the leaves floated gently from the branches. It was a still morning, broken only by the sound of curlews as they swept along the shore of the river inlet dipping into the shallows of the river in search of food. We walked for sometime through a narrow path which eventually opens out to an area where the trees are taller and which, only a few weeks ago, was covered in tall green ferns. The dogs uselessly chased squirrels and sniffed amongst the tree roots. Finally we came out onto the River Fal, a grey deep channel cutting between the trees.
IF ONLY MY COLOURIST COULD CAPTURE THE TONES IN MY HAIR
Walking back, the dogs no longer tearing around so speedily, and my own pace slowing, I thought how inspiring the colours of the leaves are. If only my colourist could capture those tones in my hair. The early fallers, such as the oak leaves, are already fading to a warm beige, the horse chestnut are shrivelled, the edges a dark rich tarnished copppery chestnut. From pale yellow to gold, brassy green-browns, deep oranges, sienna, rich deep browns the leaves blend together in a warm, mellow, tonal carpet. Oh to have that in a tube! I found funghi too, growing on a fallen branch, a pale grey with bright orange centres as if dipped in a little pot of bright colour.
INSPIRED BY NATURE
We usually take our references from fashion, but sometimes it is good to recall the diversity of colour that we find in nature, and to harness the information and inspiration that it brings.
People we love: Bangs and a Bun
Well as Bangs & Buns are both ‘hairy’ things…People we love: Bangs and a Bun.
Pink Hair!
Sometimes even I can make hair look tasteless! …But only in the name of PR -Here supporting my friend and her Fitness business in the local Carnival -and dancing in the street for 2 hours.
Me on the right!
Bed Head Urban Re-Energize Shampoo and Conditioner
Anti-age your hair.
We often hear about anti-wrinkle products for our skin – but what about our hair?
Undoubtedly your hair changes as you age, and not just the colour. It can become thinner, more porous and rather lifeless. Medication doesn’t help this process. Regular cutting will certainly help you look and feel good and a contemporary cut can knock off years better than any botox achieves. Shampoo and conditioner that address dryness and dullness and can help achieve fullness are good. Use styling products that adds shine and body and finish your hairstyle with a light hold hairspray, and a shine product.
Why does the texture of our hair feel rougher and drier as we age?
This is simple to rectify with regular cutting to keep the ends thicker, a shampoo and conditioner that helps retain moisture, protects and smoothes, a creamy styling product to further smooth the cuticle to add sheen and a shine product such as a serum or shine spray to give a final polish.
Why does our hair thin and lose volume as we get older?
Not everyone’s hair loses its volume. Generally speaking, people with thick hair will retain thick hair, but unfortunately, it is those with thin hair that often notice their hair getting even thinner. There are shampoos and conditioners on the market that thicken the hair and plump the cuticle. This provides a good support for a volumising style product, such as a mousse. Blast hair to partially dry, with your head upside down to create volume at the roots, then blow dry hair with a large round brush to achieve additional volume and to smooth the cuticle.
When our hair is turns grey – or partially grey – which colours should we choose?
Losing the colour of your hair is about your genetic makeup. Some people never go grey, some start in their teens. Most people are bemoaning the odd grey hair by their late 30s/early 40s. What colour you use to hide this depends entirely on what suits your skin tones, your hair cut and your fashion image, and to a certain extent your personal taste. Also it depends how often you are prepared to visit the salon.
Don’t try and recreate the exact colour you had as a chold/young adult, It may be too dark, or too pale. Get good advice from a technician. Slices and partial colouring techniques are easier to maintain and won’t give you the high-maintenance roots that an overall colour give.
We’d never recommend attempting to colour your hair at home. Salon technicians spend a lot of their time correcting home-colour disasters. Colour is something that requires a consultation and an understanding of what result will be achieved and how it will be maintained.
Why does our hair feel more brittle as we get older? How can we strengthen our hair?
Health is key to great hair, so the 5 portions of fruit and veg a day apply to your hair too. If you are fit and healthy, your hair will thank you for it. Condition your hair well, invest in hair treatments –indulge your hair. If it feels more brittle it is possibly because it is more porous, but also can result from over-processing. Ask your colourist o advise on colour that is conditioning and adds shine, instead of being harsh on the hair. Use products with an SPF in the summer and don’t over-use driers, straightening irons and heated curlers.
What hair-styles suit older hair?
Anthony Mascolo always says that any hairstyle can be adapted to suit any person. It’s about achieving the right balance and creating a look that flatters the facial structure and features. Long hair drags down a long face and as wrinkles and sagging skin can add to this, unless the hairstyle has volume and layers it can be very aging. But today’s women are defying the rules. Twiggy, Jerry Hall and Jo Wood are all proving that longer hairstyles can still look hot. All 3 women have adapted their personal classic look to work for them. Generally speaking it is better to keep the outline softer to flatter the face, with short layered looks or alternatively to have a really sharp cut, (think Anna Wintour’s bob.) The most important thing is to get expert advice and embrace change. What suited you at 20 my not be right at 50!
HairCult 